Wheelchair dancers roll to the beat

In Balboa Park a large group of wheelchair dancers performed at the Balboa Park Club. At the end of the groups presentation, there was a flash mob where dancers danced to the song "Stand by Me".
— Sean M. Haffey

In Balboa Park a large group of wheelchair dancers performed at the Balboa Park Club. At the end of the groups presentation, there was a flash mob where dancers danced to the song "Stand by Me".
— Sean M. Haffey

“Body posture often becomes a low priority for someone in a wheelchair, and they don’t realize how their body becomes tilted forward. They have to really tap into their core strength to keep their body upright,” said Liz Carno, a recreational therapist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital who works with Weurding and wheelchair dancers.

“A lot of them no longer get any kind of physical therapy, so unless they’re going to a gym, it’s really hard to get the kind of workout they get in wheelchair dancing,” Carno said.

Not only does dancing help develop strength and stamina for people who use wheelchairs, but it also builds bridges between their world and that of their able-bodied dance partners.

“Learning to dance alongside able-bodied partners has brought the wheelchair-users a sense of confidence and equality that is often missing in their lives,” Weurding said. “It helps the public see a more positive and approachable image of the person inside the chair.”